This was supposed to be a dream season for Shane Beamer and his South Carolina Gamecocks. Ranked No. 13 in the preseason poll, big things were expected for the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year with his Heisman-contending
quarterback, LaNorris Sellers.
Here we are, almost two months later, and the Gamecocks sit at 3-4, only one game better than the Hokies, who are 2-5 and fired head coach Brent Pry after three games. Here’s the difference: the Gamecocks were expected to be good, not so much for the Hokies. However, no one thought Pry would be fired so early in the season, but Tech’s performance in a home loss to Old Dominion proved a change was necessary.
Virginia Tech is playing out the string until a new head coach is hired. Fans are excited about the future, albeit with a hint of skepticism. Can you blame them? It’s been a nightmare since Frank Beamer retired after the 2015 season. Sure, there have been sprinkles of success, but they’ve been rare.
Back to Shane Beamer. South Carolina fans appear to be fed up with Beamer after a disappointing start. Not only are the ‘Cocks 3-4, but they are 1-4 in SEC play. Interestingly enough, Beamer’s season began with an emotional win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta. The Hokies were competitive in that game before wearing down in the late stages. South Carolina was frankly the more talented team.
Is it possible that the Hokies could hire Beamer away from South Carolina with so much frustration mounting around him in Columbia?
Check out what Brad Crawford of CBS Sports said about Beamer to Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.
Multiple sources told CBS Sports this week that Beamer to Virginia Tech is more than speculation — it has legitimacy — and would strengthen if South Carolina’s downturn continued this season. Multiple members of Virginia Tech’s search committee “are pushing for Beamer,” one source said.
Beamer was asked about the Hokies’ vacancy last month and said what he always has about his alma mater, where his father is a legend: He remains focused on winning at South Carolina.
While we aren’t going to give our opinion on Beamer to Virginia Tech in this column, it’s fair to ask: Did the search committee do its due diligence if Beamer ends up being the choice?
There was plenty of excitement when the search committee was formed, especially when you heard about all the supposed new money. If it ends up being Shane Beamer, was a committee ever even necessary? Those are fair questions. To be fair, Bud Foster recommended Pry. If Beamer ends up being the hire, many will be happy, while others will be disappointed.
Now, we wait.
